No . 130
The Trusty Servant
When the lights went out
Alex Roe ( G , 72-75 ) gathers memories of how previous national emergencies affected school life in the early 1970s :
In January 1972 , the miners came out on strike : power shortages resulted and a state of emergency was declared after the weather had unexpectedly turned cold and voltage had been reduced across the entire national grid .
In February 1974 , the miners again struck , with another state of emergency and a three-day working week to conserve electricity , the generation of which had , since the previous December , already been severely restricted by the 1973 – 74 oil crisis . There were frequent power cuts , television companies ceased broadcasting at 10.30pm and a 50mph speed restriction was imposed . Edward Heath called a General Election and the incoming Labour Government reached a deal with the miners shortly afterwards .
Recollections of these events are naturally hazy after nearly half a century and sadly too few past dons are still with us ; Go Bo minutes are also sparse . I can clearly remember , as a very jun Philite in 1972 , possessing a particularly evil-smelling beeswax candle which left a burn-mark on the shelf of my toys – it will still be there , second on the left in Mugging Hall . The current H & S Officer can have no conception of how entertaining life was then .
John Woolmer ( Co Ro , 63-75 ): On Feb 24 th 1972 , I was commanded to take a weekday service in Chapel for St Matthias ’ Day . Just before the service , I was given an unusual instruction : ‘ There is a power cut , the electricity is off . We are expecting it back on before 9.15 . You must keep speaking until the lights come on and , when the organ has power , we can have a final hymn .’ My version of events is that , when I had said all that I had carefully prepared about St Matthias , the lights miraculously came on . Henry Thompson ( Co Ro , 64-00 ) and others tell me : ‘ When you had said “ and another thing about St Matthias ’’ for the fourteenth time , we were mercifully delivered .’
During one of the miners ’ strikes , I was taking the compulsory service in Michlā . I knew that energy should be saved and decided to set an example by not allowing the candles to be lit . Mr Barnes , the verger who was used to high-church ritual , looked very upset . Just before the beginning of the service , I relented and allowed the candles to be lit . At the end of the service , I said , ‘ I ’ m sorry , Mr Barnes , if I upset you about the candles .’ ‘ Oh sir ,’ he replied , ‘ Holy Spirit wouldn ’ t have been present without them candles .’
Memorandum dated 15th February 1972 from John Thorn ( Headmaster , 68-85 ):
Emergency Plans
- New Hall Heating to be switched to very low , to preserve panelling ;
- Greatest economy possible to be exercised in Science School ; use of electricity there to be reduced to a minimum . Science School is biggest single user ;
- In the event of a power cut in the afternoon , daylight may enable work to continue till 5.30 ; each don can make his own decision on the possibility of starting 8 th hour ;
- If the situation worsens significantly , among measures that may be necessary are : starting school an hour earlier in the morning , running afternoon school from 1-3.15pm and sending everyone to bed early .
JLT penned an almost identical note two years later , except this time matters were made worse by the recent 72 % increase in the cost of heating oil . It was estimated that this would mean that annual expenditure would rise by over £ 11,000 and require an increase of £ 23 in the Commoner fee . The Finance Committee had been assured that
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